Mackellar’s ‘teal’ independent federal MP Sophie Scamps’ first 100 days in office
Federal Labor now holds sway in Canberra. But what has it meant for the northern beaches with a new ‘teal’ MP in parliament? We look at Sophie Scamps’ first 100 days in office.
Manly
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In the lead-up to the May 21 federal election, the “teal” independent for Mackellar, Sophie Scamps, told voters they had been “ignored and taken for granted for decades” by a series of Liberal MPs.
The general practitioner from Avalon Beach promised that, if elected, that she would be a loud voice in Canberra for climate change, better health outcomes for locals, integrity and transparency in politics and support for struggling small businesses.
Dr Scamps, backed by the Climate 200 group, knocked off incumbent MP Jason Falinski to take her place on the Parliamentary crossbench.
Since then, she says, she has worked hard during her first 100 days in office to start meeting her promises and the expectations of Mackellar residents.
She has already announced that she is working on two Private Member’s Bills, one to regulate junk food advertising to kids on TV, social media, radio and online.
Dr Scamps is also developing her “Ending Jobs for Mates” legislation to stop politicians choosing their friends or political colleagues for plum government jobs.
The first-time pollie, who also has a Master’s Degree in public health, has also been knocking on the doors of key government ministers, including the Treasurer and the Attorney-General, as well as the Ministers for Health and Indigenous Australians to let them know what the people of Mackellar want and need.
She met Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus about the government’s proposed federal anti-corruption commission where she pushed to ensure their was sufficient protection for whistleblowers.
When she met Treasurer Jim Chalmers, she urged him to extend support for small businesses.
She voted in favour of Labor’s Climate Change Bill after negotiating with the government to strengthen its proposed laws. This included working with the other crossbenchers to ensure the government’s 43 per cent 2030 emissions target is a minimum, not a ceiling.
Dr Scamps said one of her roles was to look at government policies and see how they can be made better and to introduce legislation that will benefit Australians, such as the junk food advertising bill — to slow down Australia’s growing childhood obesity “epidemic”.
The bill will regulate the fast food industry’s advertising during prime-time television, promotion on social media and its sponsorship of children’s sport.
“It will help manage what is happening in our hospital system at the same time.
“Because overweight and obesity is one of the lead causes of all those chronic diseases, everything from heart disease, dementia, cancers, depression even, it’s a way of alleviating pressure on our hospitals as well, without having to pour millions of dollars into the system.
“The main thing is that we want Australians to leave happier, healthier lives.”
Dr Scamps said it was important that she, and the other crossbenchers held the government to account and were “staying true to their word”.
Outside parliament, she has also been tackling local issues.
Dr Scamps has met NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts to alert him to strong community opposition to the state government’s plans for major housing developments around Lizard Rock at Belrose and other sites at Duffys Forest, Belrose and Terrey Hills.
She has been speaking with Northern Beaches Council and the state government to make sure promised funds to upgrade the Wakehurst Parkway to help alleviate flooding were still on the way.
And since opening the electorate office in late June, Dr Scamps and her staff have helped resolve 945 cases for locals ranging from passport applications to visa issues, issues with the NDIS, NBN and Centrelink.
FIRST 100 DAYS
Climate Change:
– Voted in favour of the Climate Change Bill after negotiating with the government to strengthen its proposed laws.
– Used Question Time to push the government to outline when it will deliver its Climate, Health and Wellbeing Strategy — one of her pre-election commitments in the wake of the floods impacting water quality on the northern beaches
Integrity:
– Developing her ‘Ending Jobs for Mates’ Private Member’s Bill, to enshrine in law an independent and merits-based recruitment and appointments process for Federal Government appointments.
– Met the Attorney-General about the government’s proposed federal anti-corruption commission to lobby for it to have sufficient protections for whistleblowers
Health:
– Developing her Private Member’s Bill to regulate the advertising of junk food on TV, social media, radio and online to help tackle Australia’s obesity and chronic disease crisis.
– Met Health Minister Mark Butler to push the government to do more on GP shortages in communities across Australia.
Small Business:
– Attending the government’s Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra on Thursday to take the concerns of nearly 200 local business owners about issues such as worker shortages.
– Met the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, about extending support for small businesses in Mackellar
Other issues:
– Met the Minister Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, to show her support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Local issues:
– Met NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts to voice her and the community’s strong opposition to the state government’s plans for major housing developments around Lizard Rock, as well as at Duffys Forest, Belrose and Terrey Hills.
– Worked with Northern Beaches Council and the NSW Government on ensuring promised funding for the Wakehurst Parkway is used to upgrade the road and help alleviate flooding.
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